Gap Cover For A Stovetop

ABSTRACT

A gap cover for a stovetop including a pair of rectangular plates including a right plate and a left plate. A width of each of the right plate and the left plate substantially conforms to a width of a gap between a stovetop and a countertop. Each of the right plate and the left plate has a pair of keyhole-shaped mounting holes including a top mounting hole and a bottom mounting hole. Each of the top mounting hole and the bottom mounting hole has a substantially semicircular upper portion and a substantially semicircular lower portion. Each of a right pair of screws and a left pair of screws is affixed to the stovetop. The pair of mounting holes of each of the right plate and the left plate is removably engageable with the right pair of screws and the left pair of screws, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK NotApplicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of gap filling devices are known in the prior art.However, what has ii been needed is a gap cover for a stovetop includinga pair of rectangular plates including a right plate and a left plate. Awidth of each of the right plate and the left plate substantiallyconforms to a width of a gap between a stovetop and a countertop. Whathas been further needed is for each of the right plate and the leftplate to have a pair of keyhole-shaped mounting holes including a topmounting hole and a bottom mounting hole. Each of the top mounting holeand the bottom mounting hole has a substantially semicircular upperportion and a substantially semicircular lower portion. Lastly, what hasbeen needed is for each of a right pair of screws and a left pair ofscrews to be affixed to the stovetop. The pair of mounting holes of eachof the right plate and the left plate is removably engageable with theright pair of screws and the left pair of screws, respectively. The gapcover for a stovetop is thus structured to cover the gap between thestovetop and the countertop in order to prevent spillage and promote amore hygienic and easily cleanable kitchen.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gap filling devices, and moreparticularly, to a gap cover for a stovetop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present gap cover for a stovetop, describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a gap cover for a stovetopwhich has many novel features that result in a gap cover for a stovetopwhich is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even impliedby prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.

To accomplish this, the present gap cover for a stovetop includes a pairof rectangular plates including a right plate and a left plate. The pairof plates is optionally stainless steel and, alternately, plastic, fordurability and ease of cleaning. Each of the right plate and the leftplate has a right side, a left side, a top side, a bottom side, a righttop corner, a left top corner, a right bottom corner, a left bottomcorner, and a pair of keyhole-shaped mounting holes including a topmounting hole and a bottom mounting hole. Each of the top mounting holeand the bottom mounting hole has a substantially semicircular upperportion and a substantially semicircular lower portion. Each of the topmounting hole and the bottom mounting hole of the right plate isdisposed through the right plate proximal the left top corner and theleft bottom corner, respectively, and each of the top mounting hole andthe bottom mounting hole of the left plate is disposed through the leftplate proximal the right top corner and the right bottom corner,respectively.

A length of each of the right plate and the left plate substantiallyconforms to a width of a stovetop, and a width of each of the rightplate and the left plate substantially conforms to a width of a gapbetween the stovetop and a countertop. A diameter of the upper portionof each of the pair of mounting holes of each of the pair of plates isgreater than a diameter of the lower portion of each of the pair ofmounting holes of each of the pair of plates.

The gap cover for a stovetop further includes a plurality of a pair ofscrews including a right pair of screws and a left pair of screws. Eachof the right pair of screws and the left pair of screws has a top screwand a bottom screw. The top screw and the bottom screw of the right pairof screws is affixed to a right lower edge and a right upper edge,respectively, of the stovetop, preferably electric, and the top screwand the bottom screw of the left pair of screws is affixed to a leftlower edge and a left upper edge, respectively, of the stovetop. Thediameter of the upper portion of each of the pair of mounting holes ofeach of the pair of plates is greater than a diameter of a head of eachof the top screw and the bottom screw of each of the pair of screws. Thediameter of the lower portion of each of the pair of mounting holes ofeach of the pair of plates is less than the diameter of the head of eachof the top screw and the bottom screw of each of the pair of screws. Itis envisioned that the plurality of the pair of screws can be affixed toboth new and preexisting electric stovetops. The head of each screw canalso have a decorative covering, similar to a button, for aestheticpurposes.

The pair of mounting holes of each of the right plate and the left plateis removably engageable with the right pair of screws and the left pairof screws, respectively. Each of the right plate and the left plate hasa locked position and an alternate unlocked position. Each of the rightplate and the left plate is in the unlocked position when the head ofeach of the top screw and the bottom screw of each of the right pair ofscrews and the left pair of screws, respectively, is slidably disposedwithin the upper portion of each of the top mounting hole and the bottommounting hole of each of the right plate and the left plate,respectively. Each of the right plate and the left plate is in thelocked position when the head of each of the top screw and the bottomscrew of each of the right pair of screws and the left pair of screws,respectively, is slidably disposed within the lower portion of each ofthe top mounting hole and the bottom mounting hole of each of the rightplate and the left plate, respectively.

Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of thepresent gap cover for a stovetop so that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view.

FIG. 4 is an in use view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 4thereof, an example of the instant gap cover for a stovetop employingthe principles and concepts of the present gap cover for a stovetop andgenerally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 the present gap cover for a stovetop 10is illustrated. The gap cover for a stovetop 10 includes a pair ofrectangular plates 20 including a right plate 22 and a left plate 24.The pair of plates 20 is optionally stainless steel and, alternatively,plastic. Each of the right plate 22 and the left plate 24 has a rightside 26, a left side 28, a top side 30, a bottom side 32, a right topcorner 34, a left top corner 36, a right bottom corner 38, a left bottomcorner 40, and a pair of keyhole-shaped mounting holes 42 including atop mounting hole 44 and a bottom mounting hole 46. Each of the topmounting hole 44 and the bottom mounting hole 46 has a substantiallysemicircular upper portion 48 and a substantially semicircular lowerportion 50. Each of the top mounting hole 44 and the bottom mountinghole 46 of the right plate 22 is disposed through the right plate 22proximal the left top corner 36 and the left bottom corner 40,respectively, and each of the top mounting hole 44 and the bottommounting hole 46 of the left plate 24 is disposed through the left plate24 proximal the right top corner 34 and the right bottom corner 38,respectively.

A length of each of the right plate 22 and the left plate 24substantially conforms to a width of a stovetop 52, and a width of eachof the right plate 22 and the left plate 24 substantially conforms to awidth of a gap between the stovetop 52 and a countertop 54. A diameterof the upper portion 48 of each of the pair of mounting holes 42 of eachof the pair of plates 20 is greater than a diameter of the lower portion50 of each of the pair of mounting holes 42 of each of the pair ofplates 20.

The gap cover for a stovetop 10 further includes a plurality of a pairof screws 56 including a right pair of screws 58 and a left pair ofscrews 60. Each of the right pair of screws 58 and the left pair ofscrews 60 has a top screw 62 and a bottom screw 64. The top screw 62 andthe bottom screw 64 of the right pair of screws 58 is affixed to a rightlower edge 66 and a right upper edge 68, respectively, of the stovetop52, and the top screw 62 and the bottom screw 64 of the left pair ofscrews 60 is affixed to a left lower edge 70 and a left upper edge 72,respectively, of the stovetop 52. The diameter of the upper portion 48of each of the pair of mounting holes 42 of each of the pair of plates20 is greater than a diameter of a head 74 of each of the top screw 62and the bottom screw 64 of each of the pair of screws 56. The diameterof the lower portion 50 of each of the pair of mounting holes 42 of eachof the pair of plates 20 is less than the diameter of the head 74 ofeach of the top screw 62 and the bottom screw 64 of each of the pair ofscrews 56.

The pair of mounting holes 42 of each of the right plate 22 and the leftplate 24 is removably engageable with the right pair of screws 58 andthe left pair of screws 60, respectively. Each of the right plate 22 andthe left plate 24 has a locked position and an alternate unlockedposition. Each of the right plate 22 and the left plate 24 is in theunlocked position when the head 74 of each of the top screw 62 and thebottom screw 64 of each of the right pair of screws 58 and the left pairof screws 60, respectively, is slidably disposed within the upperportion 48 of each of the top mounting hole 44 and the bottom mountinghole 46 of each of the right plate 22 and the left plate 24,respectively. Each of the right plate 22 and the left plate 24 is in thelocked position when the head 74 of each of the top screw 62 and thebottom screw 64 of each of the right pair of screws 58 and the left pairof screws 60, respectively, is slidably disposed within the lowerportion 50 of each of the top mounting hole 44 and the bottom mountinghole 46 of each of the right plate 22 and the left plate 24,respectively.

1. A gap cover for a stovetop comprising: a pair of flattenedrectangular plates comprising a right plate and a left plate, each ofthe right plate and the left plate having a right side, a left side, atop side, a bottom side, a right top corner, a left top corner, a rightbottom corner, a left bottom corner, and a pair of keyhole-shapedmounting holes comprising a top mounting hole and a bottom mountinghole, each of the top mounting hole and the bottom mounting hole havinga substantially semicircular upper portion and a substantiallysemicircular lower portion, wherein each of the top mounting hole andthe bottom mounting hole of the right plate is disposed through theright plate proximal the left top corner and the left bottom corner,respectively, and each of the top mounting hole and the bottom mountinghole of the left plate is disposed through the left plate proximal theright top corner and the right bottom corner, respectively; wherein alength of each of the right plate and the left plate substantiallyconforms to a width of a stovetop; wherein a width of each of the rightplate and the left plate substantially conforms to a width of a gapbetween the stovetop and a countertop; wherein a diameter of the upperportion of each of the pair of mounting holes of each of the pair ofplates is greater than a diameter of the lower portion of each of thepair of mounting holes of each of the pair of plates; and a plurality ofa pair of screws comprising a right pair of screws and a left pair ofscrews, each of the right pair of screws and the left pair of screwshaving a top screw and a bottom screw, wherein the top screw and thebottom screw of the right pair of screws is affixed to a right loweredge and a right upper edge, respectively, of the stovetop, and the topscrew and the bottom screw of the left pair of screws is affixed to aleft lower edge and a left upper edge, respectively, of the stovetop;wherein the diameter of the upper portion of each of the pair ofmounting holes of each of the pair of plates is greater than a diameterof a head of each of the top screw and the bottom screw of each of thepair of screws; wherein the diameter of the lower portion of each of thepair of mounting holes of each of the pair of plates is less than thediameter of the head of each of the top screw and the bottom screw ofeach of the pair of screws; wherein the pair of mounting holes of eachof the right plate and the left plate is removably engageable with theright pair of screws and the left pair of screws, respectively; whereineach of the right plate and the left plate has a locked position and analternate unlocked position; wherein each of the right plate and theleft plate is in the unlocked position when the head of each of the topscrew and the bottom screw of each of the right pair of screws and theleft pair of screws, respectively, is slidably disposed within the upperportion of each of the top mounting hole and the bottom mounting hole ofeach of the right plate and the left plate, respectively; wherein eachof the right plate and the left plate is in the locked position when thehead of each of the top screw and the bottom screw of each of the rightpair of screws and the left pair of screws, respectively, is slidablydisposed within the lower portion of each of the top mounting hole andthe bottom mounting hole of each of the right plate and the left plate,respectively; wherein each of the right plate and the left plate ishorizontally disposed across each of a right gap and a left gap,respectively, between the stovetop and the countertop when each of theright plate and the left plate is in one of the locked position and theunlocked position.
 2. The gap cover for a stovetop of claim 1 whereineach of the pair of plates is stainless steel.
 3. The gap cover for astovetop of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of plates is plastic.